Dairy herd welfare – a must for the cow, the farmer, and the consumer J ENNIFER V AN O S
Outline Who am I? How did I get here? What is my goal? What is animal welfare science? How do different stakeholders view animal welfare? What are some of the current and future considerations and priorities for dairy cattle welfare?
Outline Who am I? How did I get here? What is my goal? What is animal welfare science? How do different stakeholders view animal welfare? What are some of the current and future considerations and priorities for dairy cattle welfare?
Animal-lover with little knowledge about food animal production
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare Animal-lover with little knowledge about food animal production
2008 California ballot proposition
2008 California ballot proposition Farm animals are treated poorly?! Consumers / Voting citizens
Activists
2008 : California 2016 : Massachusetts 1988 : Massachusetts 64% Yes 78% YES 71% NO state ballot initiatives to regulate farm animal housing 2002 : Florida 2006 : Arizona 2009 : Ohio 55% Yes 62% Yes 64% Yes “Animals deserve “Yes, humane treatment!” absolutely!” Consumers / Voting citizens Activists
2008 California ballot proposition Farming = business = profit motivated…? Consumers / Voting citizens
I learned that the issues aren’t so black & white
“Corporate Social Responsibility” is changing food production Companies
Animal welfare: necessary for the social license to continue producing food in the future Can we feel good about our food? Consumers / Voting citizens
Animal welfare science can help with decision making by bringing an understanding of what’s important for the animal Companies Lawmakers Scientists Consumers / citizens Producers
Outline Who am I? How did I get here? What is my goal? What is animal welfare science? How do different stakeholders view animal welfare? What are some of the current and future considerations and priorities for dairy cattle welfare?
How do we study animal welfare? Biological science: understanding the cow Social science: understanding people
How do we study animal welfare? Biological science: understanding the cow Social science: understanding people
What is animal welfare? State of individual animal Poor welfare Good welfare Animal welfare science looks at the state of the animal – it’s outcome -based (facility-type & farm-size neutral)
What is important for animal welfare? Biological function body (bodily health) mind nature Psychological state Natural living (mental health) (behavioral health) Fraser et al. 1997. Anim. Welf. 6:187-205
What’s a “behavioral need”? How can we ask cows what matters to them? 1. Preference testing : “voting” with their feet I spend more time with “X” than “Y” because I prefer “X” 2. Motivation testing : asking them to “pay” to show how much they care about something “X” is really important to me, so I’m willing to work hard to get it!
What is important for animal welfare? Biological function body Health Performance mind nature Natural living Psychological state Behavioral needs met Lack of abnormal behavior + vs. – emotional response or state Fraser et al 1997, 2008
Cage-free aviaries vs. battery cages + better leg bone strength – more keel bone damage body – more severe foot lesions – double mortality rate mind nature + freedom of movement – more pain + natural behaviors – more fear – aggression + less frustration? – cannibalism
Measuring animal welfare Resource-based Animal-based Characteristics of: environment animal Provides info about: risk factors & animal’s state opportunities indirect direct
Outline Who am I? How did I get here? What is my goal? What is animal welfare science? How do different stakeholders view animal welfare? What are some of the current and future considerations and priorities for dairy cattle welfare?
How do we study animal welfare? Biological science: understanding the cow Social science: understanding people
Today’s discussion: mostly US + Canada context, with some perspectives from Finland and elsewhere in Europe
“Consumers today don’t understand how their food is produced. Maybe we need to tell our story better so they will learn the facts and accept what we do.” “yes and no…” Producers Non-ag consumers
Transparency is critical, but insufficient
knowledge about dairy production practices increased (education worked to convey facts) Ventura et al. 2016. PLoS ONE 11:e0154733.
perceptions of dairy production practices did not necessarily improve (education did not always improve attitudes) Ventura et al. 2016. PLoS ONE 11:e0154733.
Educational farm visit had variable effects on people’s perceptions of welfare 24% had improved perceptions of 44% no change welfare 32% became more critical Non-ag consumers Ventura et al. 2016. PLoS ONE 11:e0154733.
What values are shared vs. prioritized differently? Decision makers body mind nature Consumers Producers
The Five Freedoms Decision makers 1) Freedom from hunger or thirst 2) Freedom from discomfort 3) Freedom from pain , injury or disease 4) Freedom to express (most) normal behavior 5) Freedom from fear and distress body mind nature Current form proposed by the Farm Animal Welfare Council of the UK
Biological functioning: high priority for producers “ Provision of adequate supply, such as food and water , together with good health care , makes good welfare” Producers (focus group) body De Greef et al. 2005. J. Agric. Environ. Ethics 19:57-66.
Biological functioning: consumers place high value too nutrition health lack of injury Non-ag consumers BEFORE farm tour, body 72% of visitors had concerns about bodily health Ventura et al. 2016. PLoS ONE 11:e0154733.
Perceptions improved after farm visit when values relating to biological functioning were supported 24% had improved perceptions of welfare Care Nutrition Hygiene body Space Consumers Producers Ventura et al. 2016. PLoS ONE 11:e0154733.
Biological functioning: decision makers also prioritize Freedom from injury or disease body Decision makers
Different stakeholders agree on importance On the same page Decision makers Producers Consumers Future goal (medium- term, ≤20 yrs): body rates of lameness , transition cow disease, calf morbidity Cardoso et al. 2016. J. Dairy Sci. 99:1663-1671, Ventura et al. 2015. J. Agric. Environ. Ethics 28:109-126, von Keyserlingk et al. 2013. J. Dairy Sci. 96:5405-5425
The public expects animals to have good health, but also other things as well… nutrition health lack of injury Producers body “That’s necessary , but insufficient ” Consumers
Psychological well-being: decision makers Freedom from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, fear, distress Avoid mishandling/abuse Minimize pain: lameness, injuries, procedures (dehorning) mind Decision makers Cardoso et al. 2016. J. Dairy Sci. 99:1663-1671, Ventura et al. 2015. J. Agric. Environ. Ethics 28:109-126, von Keyserlingk et al. 2013. J. Dairy Sci. 96:5405-5425
Psychological well-being: consumers “Farm animals should be protected from feeling pain” Routine practices should be done with pain control Non-ag consumers mind Rauch & Sharp, 2005
Psychological well-being: N. Am. producers Prioritize reducing chronically painful Some use pain control conditions, like for dehorning calves lameness Producers mind
Undercover activist video released January 2019 Activists
Psychological well-being: EU producers No pain No stress Producers mind
Different stakeholders have some shared values Decision makers Consumers Producers Goal (immediate term): follow best practices established by research for managing pain and stress “easy win” for public perception mind Cardoso et al. 2016. J. Dairy Sci. 99:1663-1671, Ventura et al. 2015. J. Agric. Environ. Ethics 28:109-126, von Keyserlingk et al. 2013. J. Dairy Sci. 96:5405-5425, von Keyserlingk & Weary 2017. J. Dairy Sci. 100:10432-10444
Behavioral well-being: decision makers Freedom to express (most) normal behaviors Decision makers nature
Behavioral well-being: producers Natural environment (daylight, outdoor access), behavior opportunities, space… Should these really be a big priority? nature Producers
Psychological well-being: producers freedom to move Producers nature
Psychological well-being: producers “I think society values access to pasture…” “… and this will become Citizens increasingly important in the future” Producers nature
Behavioral well-being: consumers behavior opportunities outdoor access “buddies” BEFORE farm tour, 66% of visitors had concerns about natural living Non-ag consumers nature Ventura et al. 2016. PLoS ONE 11:e0154733.
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